Window blind



Jan. 11, 1944. w E, SARRAN ETAL 2,339,113

WINDOW BLIND Filed April 12, 1941 WC hm w awATTORNEY- Patented Jan. 11, 1944 WINDOW BLIND Wallace 13.. Sarran and Robert E. Metzger, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignors to The Chas. W. Breneman Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, at corporation of Ohio Application April 12, 1941, Serial No. 388,192

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a blind or shade for use in window openings in lieu of conventional window shades or Venetian blinds. It is also adapted for use on porches, particularly porches that are enclosed, and in various other ways. The particular invention as described in this application deals with the construction of the blind itself as distinguished from the raising and lowering mechanism.

In general, a blind of the type of the invention comprises a plurality of narrow slats positioned very close together and maintained in position by a series of tapes secured in some manner to the slats. In other words, the invention relates generally to a blind or curtain of the type formerly made from bamboo, reed and other woods, and at one time in wide use as a storm curtain on op n porches. However, as will be subsequently pointed out, the present invention is specifically directed to improvements in the construction of this general type of curtain.

In the present invention the preferred materials used in the construction of the slats are synthetic plastics, preferably alkyl ethers such as ethyl cellulose or the Eastman Companys Tenite. Other plastics which lend themselves to extrusion may likewise be suitable. The requirements of the plastic used are that it be light in weight, flexible, translucent or semi-transparent and that it be available in a wide range of colors as the adaptability of the curtain to attractive styling is one of the chief commercial advantages of the invention.

In general, it has been one purpose of the invention to provide a window blind of attractive appearance which has most of the advantages of both conventional window shades and Venetian blinds but the disadvantages of neither.

Another purpose of the invention has been to provide a blind of this general type which is particularly attractive in appearance and which lends itself to modern ideas of room decoration.

Another purpose has been to provide a window blind which because of the novel construction of the slats diffuses the light striking the blind from outside the window in a particularly pleasing manner.

Another object has been to provide a means for positioning the slats with respect to one another so that they are very firmly and rigidly positioned both as against vertical movement with respect to one another and as against warping.

Another purpose has been to provide a window curtain constructed as a unit that is completely washable.

Other and further advantages will be apparent from the further and more detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a blind placed in a window opening and partially rolled up on it self.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side view of the blind.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary'elevation in approximately actual size and particularly showing the details of the slat construction and arrangement of the tapes with respect to the slats and with respect to one another.

Figure 4 is a sectional view along the line 44, Figure 3.

The blind as shown in Figure 1 is indicated generally at I. It is positioned in the window frame 2 but the-details of the suspension are not shown as they form no part of the present invention. The slats are indicated generally at 3 and the tapes at 4. Means for rolling the blind on itself and thus elevating it comprise a cord 6 positioned around the lower margin l of the blind and a pull cord 8.

In Figure 3 there are illustrated various of the particularly novel features of the invention. As shown in this figure, in their preferred construction, the slats -3 have serrated edges such as 5. One of the purposes of this is to increase the diffusion of outer light passing through the blind when it is hung in the window frame and it has been found that this result is very effectively obtained. The two edges of each of the teeth of the serrations act as miniature light refractors when the slats are constructed from one of the preferred materials of the invention and the cumulative effect'of all of the slats so constructed and positioned is very attractive.

The slats are preferably arranged closely adjacent to one another but not contiguous or actually touching. The purpose of this is to allow the passage of light between the slats and to permit its diifusion by the serrations. 7

Another purpose of the serrated edges is to provide a more effective means for maintaining the tapes in position. As shown, these tapes pass on alternate sides of alternate slats and it is absolutely essential that they be iinbedded in or firmly secured to the slats. In order to ac complish this. the slat is first softened with some plastic solvent such as acetone, and while softened, the tapes are immediately placed in position under pressure thereby forming a more or less unitary structure. The tapes are formed preferably from cotton twill, sized, prestretched and calendered. When secured in position as just described and then passed over the serrated slat edges the material of the tapes adheres to the serrations and the. slats are thereby very effectively maintained in position with respect to one another.

In order to provide a curtain which is sufficiently light to handle readily, it is necessary to use some very light weight plastic material and these materials almost without exception are exceedingly flexible. To preserve the appearance and function of the shade, this inherent flexibility must be prevented from pro ducing a permanent warp and in order to accomplish this result it is necessary to maintain balanced and continued pressure on either side of each of the individual slats. It is also necessary to support the slats at a number of different points along their horizontal length.

In order to accomplish these purposes the invention contemplates a particular arrangement of tapes which is best illustrated in Figure 3. On the right-hand side of this figure the tapes 9, I and II are shown grouped in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention. In this arrangement the tape It tends to force the flexible slat in one direction but the tapes 9 and I! being woven through the slats conversely to tape Ill tend to offset the action of tape it) and the net result is that the slats are very firmly positioned and there is no warping. In order to combat most effectively the tendency of the slats to warp, it is preferable that each tape group include at least two tapes interlaced between the same slats and at least one tape interlaced oppositely. This provides a species of lock on the movement of each slat.

The spacing of the tape groups depends to some extent on the exact degree of rigidity of the slat material. As an example, utilizing the preferred material of the invention the groups may be positioned on an average of six inches apart. The exact distance will of course vary, depending on the width of the blind.

Referring again to the tape grouping shown in Figure 3 and using as an example the tape l i, it will be noted that in this fragmentary illustration this tape is adhesively secured to the face side of two slats at 12 and the reverse side of the alternate slats (not shown). It is also contracted by eight different serrated edges in this abbreviated illustration. The same is true of each of the other tapes.

The blinds of the type of the invention may be rolled on themselves in some such manner as is partially illustrated in Figure 1. There are also various other conventional Ways of elevating blinds of this general type. Under certain circumstances it is not at all necessary that alevating means of any sort be provided and a blind may be left in permanently extended position since the translucency of the material used permits the passage of considerable light.

Among the particular advantages of the blind is its washability. Accumulation of dirt is one of the greatest drawbacks of conventional window shades and particularly Venetian blinds which are difficult and expensive to clean. In

contrast, the shade of the invention may be washed with soap and water as a unit with no ill effects on either the slats or the tapes. Furthermore, since the material of the slats is comparatively slick they do not tend to accumulate dirt nearly as much as do the slats of Venetian blinds or the material of window shades.

It is possible to provide an infinite number of pleasing color effects contrasting the slats and the tapes. These effects are enhanced by the diffusion of light passing between the interstices of the slats. Additionally, the color scheme of the blinds may be coordinated with some general color scheme in the room, a feature which is very difficult to accomplish with either conventional window shades or Venetian blinds.

Various other advantages of the invention include quietness of operation as compared with conventional blinds or Venetian blinds, strength almost approaching indestructibility and to a considerable extent the ventilating function which is the chief advantage of Venetian blinds.

Although plastics of the type described are the preferred material of the invention, a comparable result can be obtained from other types of plastics and even metals including steel. Although the metal slat blinds are not the equivalent of the plastic blinds insofar as concerns many features of the invention, they do lend themselves equally well to the use of the serrated edge feature. In fact, this feature is of particular advantage in metal slat blinds be cause the tapes cannot be attached to the slats by softening as is the case with most plastics.

Having fully described our invention we desire to be limited only by the ensuing claims:

1. A window blind comprising a plurality of narrow slat members formed from a flexible translucent material arranged horizontally and closely adjacent to one another and a plurality of vertical attaching strips interlaced with the slat members for maintaining them in such position, said attaching strips being imbedded into the surface of the slat members to form a substantially unitary sheet.

2. A window curtain formed from a plurality of narrow strip members of flexible translucent material arranged horizontally and closely adjacent to one another; each of said strip members having a serrated edge presented to the next adjacent strip member and supporting means maintaining the serrated edges in close prox mity to facilitate the diffusion of light passing between the slats.

3. A window curtain comprising a plurality of narrow strips of a flexible translucent material such as ethyl cellulose, said strips being supported horizontally and adjacent one another and each of said strips having a serrated edge presented to the next adjacent strip, a plurality of groups of vertical tapes imbedded in the surface of the strips for maintaining them in position, each of said groups of tapes including at least three tapes woven in and out between the slats and with the slats forming a substantially unitary sheet. 7

WALLACE E. SARRAN. ROBERT E. METZGER. 

